Two powerful car bombs exploded outside government security offices in Damascus on Friday in what appeared to be the most brazen and deadly attack against President Bashar al-Assad’s government since the start of the uprising in Syria in March.

Officials said that at least 44 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the attack outside the State Security Directorate and a regional military office. They said that an initial investigation
pointed to a suicide bombing by Al Qaeda, while also linking the attack to the nine-month-old uprising in Syria. (click link for further story)